System for and method of stitching barcode fragments of a barcode symbol to be read in an imaging-based presentation workstation

Abstract

Barcode fragments of a barcode symbol to be read by an imaging-based presentation workstation are stitched together by capturing a plurality of images, each containing a barcode fragment and a plurality of features located adjacent to the barcode fragment. The features in each captured image are detected and matched. The barcode fragments are stitched together based on the matched features in the captured images. The barcode symbol is read from the stitched barcode fragments.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for stitching barcode fragments of a barcode symbol to be read by an imaging-based presentation workstation, comprising:
 an imaging assembly supported by the workstation, for capturing a plurality of images, each containing a barcode fragment and a plurality of features located adjacent to the barcode fragment; and 
 a controller for detecting the plurality of features in each captured image, for matching the plurality of features in the captured images, for stitching the barcode fragments together based on the matched features in the captured images, and for reading the barcode symbol from the stitched barcode fragments. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging assembly includes a solid-state imager for capturing the plurality of images over a field of view at different times. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging assembly includes a pair of solid-state imagers for simultaneously capturing the plurality of images over different fields of view. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3 , wherein one of the pair of solid-state imagers is situated behind a generally horizontal, light-transmissive, presentation window of the workstation, and wherein the other of the pair of solid-state imagers is situated behind a generally upright, light-transmissive, presentation window of the workstation. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller has a memory in which the plurality of images are stored. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein each feature is a two-dimensional, visible marker external to the barcode symbol. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the features are spaced apart outside of the barcode symbol. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the features are printed alongside the barcode symbol. 
     
     
       9. A system for stitching barcode fragments of a barcode symbol to be read by an imaging-based bioptical workstation having a generally horizontal, light-transmissive, presentation window and a generally upright, light-transmissive, presentation window, comprising:
 an imaging assembly in the workstation and including one solid-state imager behind the generally horizontal window, and another solid-state imager behind the generally upright window, the imagers being operative for simultaneously capturing a plurality of images over different fields of view, each image containing a barcode fragment and a plurality of features located adjacent to the barcode fragment; and 
 a controller for detecting the plurality of features in each captured image, for matching the plurality of features in the captured images, for stitching the barcode fragments together based on the matched features in the captured images, and for reading the barcode symbol from the stitched barcode fragments. 
 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein each feature is a two-dimensional, visible marker external to the barcode symbol. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the features are spaced apart outside of the barcode symbol. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the features are printed alongside the barcode symbol. 
     
     
       13. A method of stitching barcode fragments of a barcode symbol to be read by an imaging-based presentation workstation, comprising:
 capturing a plurality of images, each containing a barcode fragment and a plurality of features located adjacent to the barcode fragment; 
 detecting the plurality of features in each captured image; 
 matching the plurality of features in the captured images; 
 stitching the barcode fragments together based on the matched features in the captured images; and 
 reading the barcode symbol from the stitched barcode fragments. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the capturing of the plurality of images is performed by a solid-state imager over a field of view at different times. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the capturing of the plurality of images is performed by simultaneously capturing the plurality of images over different fields of view of a pair of solid-state imagers. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , and situating one of the pair of solid-state imagers behind a generally horizontal, light-transmissive, presentation window of the workstation, and situating the other of the pair of solid-state imagers behind a generally upright, light-transmissive, presentation window of the workstation. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 13 , and storing the plurality of images in a memory. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 13 , and configuring each feature as a two-dimensional, visible marker external to the barcode symbol. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 13 , and spacing the features apart outside of the barcode symbol. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 13 , and printing the features alongside the barcode symbol.